Boost for cause

Dawn Gibson
Monday, June 16, 2014

THE plight to protect grouper fish donu and kawakawa during their breeding season received quite the boost earlier this month, with sevens rugby king Waisale Serevi signing on to be one of the champions of the 4FJ cause.

Serevi joined other 4FJ champions such as Castaway Island head chef Lance Seeto and fishermen from a few coastal communities.

The pledge, an initiative of SeaWeb Fiji, is also trying to get other wellknown Fijians to join the cause, either as pledgers or as champions.

And so far, the pledge drive has been keeping the SeaWeb Fiji team busy, with more than 1200 pledges collected so far.

According to SeaWeb Fiji program associate Alumeci Nakeke, the public's response to the initiative had been positive, as many Fijians understand the importance of the fish both for survival and culturally.

The importance of the four-month breeding season (June to September) cannot be stressed enough, Ms Nakeke says, adding that in order to feed future generations, people need to be taking a stand now to protect the fish while they breed.

Those interested in taking the pledge not to eat, sell or catch the fish species during this four month period are being encouraged to get in touch with the SeaWeb Fiji team, who are based on Gladstone Road in Suva.